Morning Star | Page 7

up yonder, yes, yonder over the Valley of dead Kings, though
twenty years and more must go by ere then, and take this for your
comfort, during those years you shine alone," and he began to unfold a
papyrus roll.
Abi snatched it from him, crumpled it up and threw it in his face.
"You cheat!" he said. "Do you think to frighten me with this nonsense
about stars? Here is my star," and he drew the short sword at his side
and shook it over the head of the trembling Kaku. "This sharp bronze is
the star I follow, and be careful lest it should eclipse /you/, you father
of lies."
"I have told the truth as I see it," answered the poor astrologer with
some dignity, "but if you wish, O Prince, that in the future I should
indeed prophesy pleasant things to you, why, it can be done easily
enough. Moreover, it seems to me that this horoscope of yours is not so
evil, seeing that it gives to you over twenty years of life and power,
more by far than most men can expect--at your age. If after that come
troubles and the end, what of it?"
"That is so," replied Abi mollified. "It was my ill-temper, everything
has gone cross to-day. Well, a gold cup, my own, shall pay the price of
it. Bear me no ill-will, I pray you, learned scribe, and above all tell me
no falsehood as the message of the stars you serve. It is the truth I seek,
the truth. If only she may be seen, and clasped, I care not how
ill-favoured is her face."
Rejoicing at the turn which things had taken, and especially at the
promise of the priceless cup which he had long coveted, Kaku bowed
obsequiously. He picked up his crumpled roll and was about to retire
when through the gloom of the falling night, some men mounted upon
asses were seen riding over the mud flats that border the Nile at this
spot, towards that bank where the ship was moored.
"The captain of my guard," said Abi, who saw the starlight gleam upon
a bronze helmet, "who brings me Pharaoh's answer. Nay, go not, bide

and hear it, Kaku, and give us your counsel on it, your true counsel."
So the astrologer stood aside and waited, till presently the captain
appeared saluting.
"What says Pharaoh, my brother?" asked the Prince.
"Lord, he says that he will receive you, though as he did not send for
you, he thinks that you can scarcely come upon any necessary errand,
as he has heard long ago of your victory over the desert-dwelling
barbarians, and does not want the offering of the salted heads of their
officers which you bring to him."
"Good," said Abi contemptuously. "The divine Pharaoh was ever a
woman in such matters, as in others. Let him be thankful that he has
generals who know how to make war and to cut off the heads of his
enemies in defence of the kingdom. We will wait upon him
to-morrow."
"Lord," added the captain, "that is not all Pharaoh's message. He says
that it has been reported to him that you are accompanied by a guard of
three hundred soldiers. These soldiers he refuses to allow within the
gates. He directs that you shall appear before his Majesty attended by
five persons only."
"Indeed," answered Abi with a scornful laugh. "Does Pharaoh fear, then,
lest I should capture him and his armies and the great city with three
hundred soldiers?"
"No, Prince," answered the captain bluntly; "but I think he fears lest
you should kill him and declare yourself Pharaoh as next in blood."
"Ah!" said Abi, "as next of blood. Then I suppose that there are still no
children at the Court?"
"None, O Prince. I saw Ahura, the royal wife, the Lady of the Two
Lands, that fairest of women, and other lesser wives and beautiful slave
girls without number, but never a one of them had an infant on her

breast or at her knee. Pharaoh remains childless."
"Ah!" said Abi again. Then he walked forward out of the pavilion
whereof the curtains were drawn back, and stood a while upon the prow
of the vessel.
By now night had fallen, and the great moon, rising from the earth as it
were, poured her flood of silver light over the desert, the mountains, the
limitless city of Thebes, and the wide rippling bosom of the Nile. The
pylons and obelisks, glittering with copper and with gold, towered to
the tender sky. In the window places of palaces and of ten thousand
homes lamps shone like stars. From gardens, streets and the courts of
temples floated the faint sound of singing and of music,